The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-11-19

would take another Job too quick IL
could get it," Annie occasionally
drops into slang. "But / have been
brought up b the work, and there's
nothing else could do where could
earn as much. Sometimes ladies talk
% me and some say they would not do
it for any thing, and others again
praise me. / don't know which are
right. All ! know is that am used
% the switches and don't mind. except
at times"
The tone Of voice was cheerful, al
though quiet, and the words came as
the conviction arrived at after careful
weighing Of all the advantages and
disadvantages.
''Do you not suffer from cold in the
winter?'
go, yes, sometimes. The wind has
such a sweep here; but / dodge in
and out Of the shanty. if it is only for a
minute. to warm my fingers. The cold
| don't mind 50 much as the heat
These tracks draw the sun So II is
very hot here ut times. and then have
awful headaches"
"You don't give up?"
81 can't; there's no one 10 take my
place" was the quiet reply.
Does your sister practice telegraphy
now?"
'NO; she was taken sick then mother
was sick and needed some one to help
her with the housekeeping.
"Then you support the family?"
Yes" with "A little laugh. The
next moment Annie was outside setting
a switch right for freight train that
went laundering by. As the caboose
passed. shout of Hello, Annie!"
brought an answering smile and wave
Of the hand from the girl.
"They all speak to her. and she has
a pleasant word for every one. said
the uncle, and had occasion to notice
the truth Of the remark during the
course Of my visit.
"Were you not frightened when the
Polish rioters came through the yard
last year?' | asked rs Annie returned.
"Well, | wasn't frightened, but |
didn't feel exactly comfortable, was
the naive reply. IL was out in the
yard when | saw them coming. !
couldn't leave, as there were the
switches to throw, One fellow called
on; 10 me that | should quit work. /
told HIM to mind his own business.
Then great big Pole attempted to put
his arms around me. | cried: Get
away from me, you great nasty Polack!
and gave him such slap in the face
that he staggered of The others
laughed aud made no attempt to touch
me when | went through them to set IA
switch for a train that was coming
After that | went into the shanty and
the crowd went off toward the city;
that was the last saw of them"
This was very simple. modest re-
cital of an event that few men would
have cared to have been concerned in.
The mob was made up of Polish labor
crs who were flushed with victory at
the West Milwaukee shops. and had
announced their intention of driving off
every workman found employed any
where. II was composed of the same
element that two days later made the
attack on Bay Wow what resulted so
dsastrously to themselves.
Only once did Annie dodge ques-
ton That was when, rising to go, |
asked: "How old are you, Annie?"
just as old as | Look was the re-
ply, quick rs flash, but the sting of
the words was drawn by merry peal
of laughter.
"How old do look?" sho asked, n
moment later.
After hasty sum in mental arth-
metic | automatically replied; Tween
ty-threc.'
"Tm all of that" was the smiling
response, and the interview closed.
The most prominent feature in
AnnIe's character is her sunny dispo-
position. This. perhaps, is the secret
of hor hold on the rough men with
whom she is thrown i'm contact. She
is never idle. When sitting in the
switch "shanty' she knits mttens and
stockings both for herself and the re-
mandcr of her family. When all are
provided for she eNploys her needles
on wristlcts, which find ready sale
among the train-crews.
Annie is firm believer in woman's
rights, so far rs they pertain to labor.
but troubles herself very little about
tine question which agitators continue
to thrash over and over. While they
have been striving after the unattaina-
ole, she has been quietly working out
practical solution of the perplcXing
problem.
Many stories are told of Annic's
pluck and deSterity, whereby serious
accidents which would have cntailed
great destruction of life and property
were avertcd One of the most excit-
ing instances of the kind occurred
year or more ago. BY way of preface
it must be explained that there is a
down grade from the west toward the
switch shanty. On the occasion in
question heavy freight train WAS COM
ing down at full speed. As il neared
one of the switches the engineer was
Mortified To find that ii was turned
wrong. The clear, glistening iron lines
sparkled mischicvously in the sunlight
up to the switch. There they broke
sharp off BcyOpd was wreck and dam